iPad2 faulty?

Her indoors is off on Saturday for 4 months to the far east. We got her an iPad 2 a couple of weeks ago and she has been leearning how to use it. A couple of days ago she tried the Apple plug in for her camera Sim card and 9 times out of 10 it wouldn't work and often displayed a fault message. We took it back to the shop and they re-installed all the software and after synch...ing it with her laptop it now works 9 times out of 10. I think there is still something wrong with it but the store want to book it in for repair with no chance of her getting it back before she leaves. Are we entitled either to a new machine or our money back as I really don't fancy the idea of it failing when she is overseas.

That's not acceptable, it should work every time, all other things being equal.

A two-week old machine shouldn't need to go for repair unless there's a hardware fault. The retailer has already reinstalled software, and if that didn't work either the software is faulty, or there's a hardware fault. Ask for a replacement machine on the basis of this one not being fit for purpose.

You don't say where you bought the iPad - it might be helpful to know that.

Well that was another wasted day. I phoned the shop this morning and told them it was still faulty and I was bringing it back. The Manager was there this time and I told him about my visit on Tuesday and all the things that had been tried but that it was still not working properly. He plugged a few things in and out of it but then told me that he would need to contact Apple before he could do anything and that there was no way that anything would be done before my wife left on Saturday. I again asked for a replacement product or a refund but the manager refused to do either. Not wishing to start an argument in the shop I then told him that this was his last chance to replace it as if he didn't I was going to buy another iPad as my wife needed it for Saturday and that I would then be only looking for a total refund. He just told me to leave which I did.

I know how to make a claim through the Small Claims Court but I'm unsure what I should presently do with the iPad apart from keeping it in a secure and good condition. I will also want to wipe it clean and I'm not sure how to do this.

I think that I would contact Apple, try to speak to a member of the Management, and tell them of your problems with their new Franchisee and then ask them whether they think that this is up to the standard of Apple's other Outlets.

I would do this without making any complaint and ask them what they would advise that you do.

A neighbour had a problem purchase the other month with one of our local Apple franchisee's. After purchasing the item he had a problem with the charging unit, I found on the internet that some other people had similar problems, so harmed with print-outs he returned to the store, and was duly told by the 'assistant' manager that the store could do nothing about it (only sell him a new charger). It took the manager, on another visit the next day, when the store manager had returned from his day off, to resolve the issues, and that was only after the threat involving Trading Standards or contacting Apple direct was made.

"He plugged a few things in and out of it but then told me that he would need to contact Apple before he could do anything"

He can contact Apple as much as he likes, but your contract isn't with them, it's with his store, and his store is liable for the fault in law. This machine is two weeks old, and the law states that unless the retailer can demonstrate otherwise it must be assumed that the fault was there when you bought the machine. You are entitled to a replacement or a refund,and as you have bought a second iPad I assume you'll be wanting the refund.